AliciaH,I use 1 tablespoon of ACV per gallon of syrup but i know people that use 2 tablespoons per gallon. Bragg's ACV has all the good stuff still in it. Store brands tend to filter a lot of that out.

If you do a search here you'll likely get a bunch more information that will explain it. Been using it since 2009. Mostly in fall when the syrup gets stored in the hive for the bees to consume all Winter. This is the first year i've not used Fumagilin and that includes the packaged bees.

I know of no studies on cider vinegar and Nosema (there are some on lemongrass essential oil), but the pH of syrup with cider vinegar would be higher than syrup and less conducive to the reproduction of Nosema. There are studies on what pH Nosema reproduces at best and the pH of sugar syrup is exactly perfect for Nosema reproduction. While honey is more acidic. I would likely keep the Nosema reproduction down. If that would prevent or cure Nosema, I don't know. But feeding syrup or honey or anything with sugar in it will clear up Nosema...

The upside is it's an antimicrobial which means it will kill Nosema. The downside is it's a antimicrobial which means it will kill the healthy bacteria in the bees' gut and in the pollen that needs to ferment in order to be digestible. The other downside is a "feed stimulant" also acts as a "robbing stimulant".

I agree.

And it also is a foreign smell that interferes with the natural pheromones and communications of the hive.

I don't use any oils except for a particular test of breeder queens in the spring. Other than that, I see no reason for the expense, robbing, or other negative impacts on the hive.

>> but the pH of syrup with cider vinegar would be higher than syrup>I'm pretty sure you meant that the pH with ACV would be lower than syrup

I thought that' s what I said, but apparently not... yes it would be lower. To be specific:syrup is about 6.0. Honey is typically between 3.2 and 4.5. Cider vinegar will lower pH as it is more acidic and if you get in the range of honey you will encourage less reproduction of Nosema. I don't know if there is evidence that it will KILL the Nosema, however.

I used this recipe from the maker of the original feeder. I made my own from a Rubbermaid container. The bees seem to love this recipe and consume it in a few days. My package installation is 17 days old and the girls seem to be doing splendidly. I ordered the Lecithin and oils from Vitacost.com. (http://www.collinsbeefeeder.com/About_the_Feeder.html)

Bring the water to a boil and integrate the sugar until dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved remove the mixture from the heat and quickly add the lecithin and the essential oils. Stir until everything is evenly distributed. This solution should have a strong scent and not be left open around bees.

.OH BOY. bees do not need those incredients. I use for swarms 20% sugar syrup. When bees have drawn combs, sugar is away and does not mix into honey. To mix essential oils to honey during summer is not good at all.

Sorry it's not up to your standards finski.I guess the po foks in west virgina university just can't figure out them complicated concepts of theory, hypothesis, experment, and conclusion. http://rnoel.50megs.com/letter9.html

When I feed my bees I use ACV at the rate of 1 Tbsp per gallon. I've been doing it for over 50 years. ACV, beside simple syrup, is the only treatment of any kind I use on my bees, my hive losses have been low, hive vitality has been high, as has been production per hive.

Since both ACV and natural oils are deemed to be in the "Crackpot" scheme of beekeeping scientists have not given either any serious considerations. Most of the scientific studies I've read, that expound great discoveries, have been of such a short duration as to be invalid in it's results. Usually further extended studies have proven the conclusions of the short studies in error. A study of 4-8 weeks really proves nothing, a study over 2-3 years would have much more validity but is often not done due to lack of "funding."

As a result may scientific fallacies continue to be prepetuated and "crackpot" practices that have proven helpful through years of use continue to be looked at as quackery, or as Finski says, "magic.".

Logged

Life is a school. What have you learned? :brian: The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

.Sorry guys. Euope is 10 years ahead in varroa treament. Italian professor Nanetti one of the best.

Mixing all diseases and essential oils is "advanced hobby job". i know something too with my 48 beekeeping years. look from google "nanetti varroa" and you get best knowledge in the world. USA is now repeating Nanetti's findings.

I did Google "nanetti varroa" until I found something in English that I could read. Very interesting and read worthy. My colony is new and no problems so far. Thanks for the tip Finski but why do you always seem to come across like everyone else is stupid and doing things wrong and you are the only one who knows how to do it right? Is it just me?

I did Google "nanetti varroa" until I found something in English that I could read. Very interesting and read worthy. My colony is new and no problems so far. Thanks for the tip Finski but why do you always seem to come across like everyone else is stupid and doing things wrong and you are the only one who knows how to do it right? Is it just me?

he is fool who debate with one hive owner. yes, I know much facts about beekeeping.There are plenty of all kind of fools among beekeepers. Very few want to dig from google facts. It limits imagination...

.should I encourage to do fools things with bees, just to get social acceptance?

Nosema apis does clear up in late spring and is not much of a problem ,but nosema ceranae does not clear up..it persists all through the summer,keeping the colony weak and unproductive,with very few foragers in a severely infected hive.